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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Mary or Miriam?

37 replies

Firebird83 · 21/12/2022 23:50

Which do you prefer?

OP posts:
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Figgypudding123 · 22/12/2022 15:08

Mary is lovely

TheYearOfSmallThings · 22/12/2022 15:16

Both great names, I know a few little Marys but no little Miriams, so maybe I would go for that?

midsomermurderess · 22/12/2022 15:30

Miriam. Although that silly, faux-naïf goose Margolyes does come to mind. Not a long-term liability for a child born now though.

LazyDoll · 22/12/2022 22:35

OverCCCs · 22/12/2022 14:46

Even though they have the same meaning, I don’t see them as closely interchangeable like say, Mary and Maria are.

I associate Miriam with someone with Jewish heritage, or possibly descends parts of the Mediterranean. Stereotypically, I’d envision someone with dark hair and dark eyes, maybe olive skin. I’d find it an odd choice on someone who’s, say, 100% Norwegian.

That’s really interesting. You have pretty much described my appearance there but I have British and southern Irish roots (colouring from
my Dad’s side) and it was a popular name there when my mum was growing up. I have often been asked due to name/colouring if I am of Mediterranean descent though.

SmileWithADimple · 22/12/2022 22:36

Miriam

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 22/12/2022 23:17

Mary for me. So classic sounding, lots of cool historical namesakes (Stuart, Wollstonecraft, Shelley, Seacole...), pretty diminutive (May), variety of namesake songs etc. It perhaps used to a be bit dull/plain sounding, but underuse these days makes it sound fresher again imo. I'd possibly be slightly nervous of teasing due to associations - Bloody Mary, Virgin Mary, "Hairy Mary"; but if you are brave enough it's a cool name.

In comparison I'm not so keen on the sound of Miriam personally - I think I find the "m" ending a bit harsher/more masculine sounding (William/Liam, Adam, Bertram, Abraham/Bram, Maxim etc) .

Cherryblossoms85 · 22/12/2022 23:19

I like both but would choose Marie or Maria in case she wants to live overseas, Mary doesn't translate to Spanish, Italian, french etc.

AndyWarholsPiehole · 22/12/2022 23:21

Why not use Maryam instead?

NoWeaponsOnTheTable · 22/12/2022 23:21

Miriam, although I really like both.

picnicshicnic · 22/12/2022 23:50

Mary is just beautiful.

So simple.

Gingersnappy · 23/12/2022 17:50

I'm not a huge fan of either, but I prefer Mary to Mariam

Luredbyapomegranate · 24/12/2022 10:07

Mary, due a revival

Miriam is a bit dry

Marianne and Maryam are nice too

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